Community Announcements - Emmanuel Lutheran

HELPING HANDS is in need of a NEW Coordinator: This program provides meals to those who are temporarily homebound due to short-term illness or recent surgery. Lead Coordinator lines up folks (2 a month) who would be responsible for getting meals coordinated, cooked and delivered for that month from a list of members willing to help provide them; and then keeping that list updated and checking in with the church office to make sure that elibible homebound are being served. If interested in serving our church community in this way, please contact the church office for further details.

Outreach Singers: Our next visit will be to the WNC Baptist Home on Sunday, August 26 at 2:30 pm. Carpoolers--please meet in the church parking lot at 2:00 pm. All member are welcome to join us!

Summer Fellowship Luncheons: During the Summer Season, we are having one cook-out style luncheon a month after a Wednesday Noon Service. Church will provide all the fixin's! Next one will be August 22.

NEW AUGUST SUNDAY SCHOOL/BIBLE STUDY CLASSES FOR AUGUST!

> New Bible Study: Blessed are the Peacemakers starts up during our regular Sunday School Hour at 10:00 am. This is a Bible Study on personal peacemaking. Class is led by Pastor McFarland and will meet in the sanctuary.

> New Bible Study: Called to Vote will also meet during our regular Sunday School Hour at 10:00 am in the Church Conference room. This class explores a Christian approach to elections and is led by Rev. Larry Rabon.

> Children’s Sunday School will resume in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 am. This month’s theme is Summer Vacation! What can Summer Vacation teach us about our faith? Join us Sunday mornings at Emmanuel and find out! Class is led by Karin Gleason.

>CRAVE is a new Bible Study Class offering for SENIOR YOUTH. Class is taught by Nick Black and will meet in the School conference room

Help Us Grow: Give Electronically! Electronic giving can keep you on track with stewardship and guarantees uninterrupted support for our church: Give anytime, anywhere to your favorite funds. If you would like to give electronically, please visit our website at emmanuellutheran.info and access the donation page from the Giving menu, or you can scan the QR code on the “I GIVE” card in the pews with your Smart Phone; thank you.

Bushwhackers - It's that time of year again! The Bushwhackers are back into the season of tending to the Emmanuel grounds to keep them tidy and attractive. We gather at 8:00 am the third Saturday of each month and work until noon. We break at 10:00 am for refreshments and fellowship. If you would like to lend a hand to support Emmanuel that does not involve a meeting and get's you into "the outdoors," please give me a call! - Gerry Hardesty: 299-3315

Special Birthday Card Program: We thought it might be nice to send our members celebrating nonagenarian birthdays (age 90-99) birthday cards for their accomplishment! If you would like to participate, please check the church bulletins or newsletter for names of those celebrating a 90+ birthday. Please check the online church directory, your printed directory or call the church office for addresses.

The Lending Library Cart has new books available - come check it out! If you are a history buff, you may enjoy "John Frederick: The Magnanimous." He was a defender of Martin Luther and Hero of the Reformation. "The Gates of Hell" presents sermons and essays which testify to the power of Christ's promise to defend His church. A powerful read. "Embracing Godly Character" deals with how the Christian Community can respond to a Godless Culture. The author writes a compelling call to action for pastors, teachers, leaders and parents as they support God's children in living in a godly way in an ungodly culture. "The Love Bridge" brings smiles of thanks from the very young to those who celebrate many years of thanks-living. A must read! - The Resource Center Committee

MANNA FoodBank Volunteers are greatly needed! We meet the 3rd Thursday of every month from 1-3pm to help sort and box food/cleaning items for the distribution to those in need in our community. For more info, please contact Cindy Piercy at 828-280-3900; thank you.

If you've always wanted to memorize scripture, but have found it difficult, the Internet comes to the rescue. Memverse.com is a web based tool that lets you choose scriptures of interest and then guides you through the process of memorization. It's an amazingly powerful tool! If you do sign-up, please make sure you add "Emmanuel Lutheran" as your church affiliation under your account profile. This way we can grow together in our knowledge of God's Word. Questions? Call Scott Hausman for more info at 450-9188.

Nursery: (ages 3-5) open 10:45-12:15 for the 11:00 services. Nursery is located in room 106—which is downstairs in the hallway below the sanctuary across from the trophy case next to the ECE Director's office.

Name Tags: If you do not currently have a name tag, please let the church office know so we can get one made for you—thank you.

Hospitality Opportunity! Please sign-up to make coffee and/or provide refreshments for the 11am Praise & Worship Service (gym). Please call Lisa at 243-6590 or send date you can sponsor the hospitality table to lisabaldwin4kids@gmail.com

Monday Night Bible Study: This group led by Jean Stiemke has resumed on Mondays at 7:00 pm in the Media Center. Come join us for this fascinating study. Have questions? Please contact Jean Stiemke at 828-299-1534 or fjstiemke@gmail.com.

Linus Blankets, sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are a group of folks who meet every 2nd Tuesday in the Narthex/lobby area who make special blankets for children going through some form of crisis or tragedy, such as hospitalizations, accidents, fires, etc. They are VERY simple to make and are a lot of fun so come join us! For more information, please contact Carol Bergholz at 686-3383. We break during the summer months.

Lutheran Hour Tract Rack in the Narthex. Tracts are available free of charge which are informative, eveangelical, and comforting. Please take a moment to examine the different tracts. May they be a blessing to you and to those that you share them with.

The Adult Choir meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm in the music room. We need all voice parts. Please contact Kevin Lorenz if you have any questions. We break during the summer months.

The Emmanuel Ringers, our handbell choir, meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the music room. If you would like to ring with us and have not participated before, please contact Kevin Lorenz. We break during the summer months.

Updated Emails: As people often change email addresses, please check the directory to see if we have your most current email address (or have one at all). Please submit corrections or additions to churchoffice@elcsmail.org.Thank you!

Wantto learn more about the Christian Faith? Classes are offered for youth and adults alike to help you learn the basic teachings of the Christian faith. For more information, please contact Pastor Michael McFarland at pastormcfarland@elcsmail.org.

Membership: If you or your family would like to learn more about Emmanuel or are interested in becoming a member, contact Pastor McFarland at 828-252-1795, or pastormcfarland@elcsmail.org.

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts meet on Tuesday nights during the school year: Boy Scouts at 6:30 pm in the church narthex/lobby area, and Cub Scouts at 7:00 pm in the church Fellowship Hall. Boy Scouts, one of the traditional membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, or are 11 years old or have completed the 5th grade but not yet 18 years old. The program achieves the BSA's objective of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness. For younger boys, we also have a Cub Scout troop. If you would like to join our troops, please contact the church office at (828) 252-1795. We break during the summer months.

The Mission and Outreach Singers were formed 12 years ago as an outreach ministry of Emmanuel. They go to area Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Prisons and Shelters. Monthly visits to different facilities are scheduled where they share scripture, have prayer and pass out devotional booklets. Members find that while they go to be a blessing, they always come away feeling that they are the ones who were blessed. To find out more, contact Doug Greene at 658-2114. We break during the winter months.

Weekly Small Group Bible Studies: please see "Christian Education" under the Ministry tab.

Prayer Ministry: Here at Emmanuel, we are a praying congregation. We pray for those who are suffering, be it physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, for members of our church, friends, neighbors, our community and for our nation. We also pray for our spiritual leaders and the leaders of our local, state and national governing bodies. If you would like be a part of our prayer ministry through one of our prayer chains (phone & email), or in some other capacity, please contact Rev. Gillespie at algklg@msn.com.

Simply Giving. If you would like your tithes and/or offerings to be given through “direct deposit,” please see Jerry McMahan, our Financial Secretary. This program enables us to keep our Lord’s gifts as our first gifts

Help Our School Earn Free Equipment and You Could Win Free Groceries and an iPod Nano®. The more you shop at BI-LO, the more chances you have to win. Log on to www.bi-lo.com to register your BI-LO BONUSCARD® for our school. Our school code is 54007. This will automatically earn credit for our school, and earns you an additional entry each time you shop using your card. If you do not have a card, you can sign up for one at any BI-LO location.

OR……

Do you have an INGLE’S CARD? If so, you can also use THAT to help our school!! If you want to link your card to Emmanuel or need to re-link it (this needs to be done each year!), please contact Barb Schmitz. You can email her at bschmitz@elcsmail.org. Remember, we need ALL 12 numbers on the back of your card, even the small one at the end!

Volunteer Opportunities in our Community:

--Serving Lunch at the Veteran's Quarters:On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd (and 5th) Monday's of ever month, folks at Emmanuel provide lunch for the men at our local Veteran's Shelter on Tunnel Road. Want to help? COntact Sheila Edwards at 615-504-0642; thank you.

--Serving Dinner at the Steadfast House:This ministry serves Women and Children who are coming out of abusive relationships. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, folks from Emmanuel serve an evening meal for those broken families. For more infomration on how you can become involved, please contact Judit Walter at 828-691-4621; thank you!